Fusible link.



C. ADAMS.

FUSIBLE LINK.

APPucATloN mso Aue.3o.19|z.

I Patented Nov.^5, 1918.

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UNITED STATESA rATENTQWm 7 ci-'LtAnLEs Annivis, or' UNIONl HILL, NEW Jnnsitir.'y

To all 'whom 5oz/may concern.'

Be it kno wn that I, CHARLES ADAMS, a citizen of the United' States, residing in Union Hill, in the county of Hudson and State of New'gJer'sey, Yhave invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Fusible Links, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to fusible-links, which will automatically release and. break apartwhen 'the temperature reaches a predetermined abnormally high poi-nt, usually about 155 deg-rees F.; used in many devices such as automatic sprinkler-nozzles finl lire entinguisliensystems for delivering fire-extinguishing Vfluids upon a lire-zone; and for p lpsures lfor lire-doors and shutters; and the .One object of my invention is to form an eilicient, strong and effective fusible-link, of simple and cheap` construction, of little weight .butgreat holding strength, until released by fusion, lin which the amount of theentremely costly fusible-solder necessarily'used, will be reducedto a minimunr Another object is to provide a link that maybe used in many varied positions, and for many separate uses; such as sprinklerheads; lire-doors and shutters, etc., without frein the eign.. n

changein ysuch links or in the apparatus to which,itis tobe appliedry none of which I have deemed it essential to show herein.

Other objectsand capabilities of my said inventionwill at once besfeen by those skilled in .the art, upon .examination of the specification, etc.','and` I do not intend to ylimit myself to theexact constrlltl Shown.

My said invention is fullyl shown, described and claimed in the following specifica-tiem, of which the accompanying draw-- ing a pap-it; wherein similar letters or numeralsof .reference i designate like or equiialent `parts wherever found throughout theE seyeral views,vand inpiw'fhicli:H Figure 1` is a fam-new of a `comprate fusible-link, of my improved form; securedin puede@ .securing-links', but. wth, the main'suprnstowhch such end-links are Sec'iigmnt ,being .Shawn-a l, Fig. 2 is aside View ofV such'link taken in of Fig. l, looking central, vertical scticn 3 ist vieu. iiiflarfFig 2;@ a .e11- lrged scale o'ffthe link, as ,shown in' Figs. l a'd'2, being of abouti the actual size of link used in sprinkler-heads, andFfg'.y 3, being of Specicatin of Letters Patent. y

Patented Nv. 15", 1ers. Y

.Application led August 30, 1917. Serial No. 188,942.

securing fire-doors, fire-shutters, etc., where greater strength is required and Fig. l is a view in central longitudinal secnm ofthe two parts A and released one from the other.

lteferringA tothe `drawing The reference letters and A Vdesignate two fiat metallic-plates lor link-members formed in `any Vdesired manner, from 'any suitable xmetal, rbut which for cheapness of construction and lightness, struck up into the formshown, by means of suitable-dies, from some non-oxidizable orv non-corrodible ,metalg such as sheet-brass of the. proper thickness; which in the case ofy links to be used in automatic lire-extinguisher nozzles is-usually between one'and two millimeters (or about 3/64 of Van inch)y in thickness. These two linkmembers vare of the same identical shape, size and contour, being struck in the same die; and each having the closed securing-orifice 1, and the open ended-like trip-orifice 2, which when such two plates A and A', are reversely superposed one upon the kother will register onel with thel other, (Figs. l, 2 and 3) and when soldered together vform a two-part thermally releasable link, of the form shown in Figs. l and 2.

As shown, each of such'links is provided at theinner central end of the open ended trip-'orifice 2, with a backwardly bent securing-lug 3, which when the parts are in the locking position (Figs. l, 2 a'nd 3) extends into and through the closed securing- Orifice 1, of its sister-plate, and abuts againstl the inner end surface of such securing-orifice 1, which end is usually swaged outward in the safme direction as 3 into a' point 4, so as to leave an enlarged space 5, between 3 and @adapted to be filled with a body of fusiblesolder 6; and adjacent to the center of each of such link-members A and A', so as to be' in line, when suchl members are soldered together, on the central line of the doubleplate-l'ink so formed is a side-lug 7 one extending in one direction and one in the other; whereby the strain upon thetwo link members until fully released upon fusion, will be along 'and in line with the 'longitudi-V nal axis of each of such plates; whereby liabilityv of accidental displacement (as well as the amount of solder required) will be reduced to a minimum, while at the same time are usually about Vthe actual size of the links used for the outer end, bent portion of the lugs will 60 Y of such link separated, Y

upon melting of the solder, tend to throw the plates A and A. apart.

In order to facilitate quick release of the linkmembers A and A upon thermal fusion, the securing-lugs 3 are separated from the main body portion of the link-members by the side-slots 8 (Fig. l) 3 and while in some cases, where great strength is desired, a central film of fusible-solder 6 (Fig. l) may be interposed between the abutting faces of the central portions 9 of the link-members which may also extend horizontally across such member, and secure the side-lugs 7 to the abutting edges of the adjacent linkmember as indicated at 6 of Fig. l, the securing lilin of solder being then in the form of a central cross, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2; but in the smaller sizes of links only the end bodies 6 of solder are used, whereby the cost of construction is much reduced. Such composite two-plate fusible-links are secured in place according to the use to which they are to be put, such as the securing-links or members B (Fig. l), one of which is passed through the securing closed end orifices l, as shown in such figure; but other suitable means may of course be used.

`While the cross-like form of the body of fusible solder indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l, in the form of a thin film, is one very good and ellicient form. thereof for securing the two separate link portions together, in some cases; and for certain purposes, I prefer to solder the links together with a very much thicker body of solder, located between and covering their entire abutting surfaces; the thickness assisting in the quick melting of such solder, and to provide for same. a boss l0 is formed in each of the two end members at the open end of each of the links, usually by swaging by suitable punchers or dies, from the outside of the links toward the inner side or face, as indicated by the outer depressions 10 opposite the projection or boss so formed in Figs. l and 4. These bosses are of sulficient length, (usually about one or two millimeters, or say approximately g of an inch) as clearly indicated in Figs. l and ll, as to space the links apart from one another, as indicated in Fig. l, the length of the projection of the bosses from the opposing plate at either ond. In soldering the same together the double link so formed is clamped or wired in position; whereupon the entire space between the abutting faces is completely lled with a suitable easily fusiblesolder; and upon cooling the two part link so formed, is ready for use.

It is evident that many changes and modifications in the construction arrangements of the rarious parts of my improved thermally automatically releasable link, may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, and I do not intend to limit myself to the exact construction or arrangement shown.

I claim:

l. An automatically thermally i'eleasable link comprising two flat-members superposed one upon the other with their flatfaces in contact, so as to form a two-part composite link, each part having at one end a closed-orifice or slot, and at the other a like orifice or slot open at the outer end; a central securing-lug at the inner end of each open-slot extending into the closed-slot of the adjacent member; and fusible-solder securing the superposed members together adjacent to the center.

2. An automatically thermally releasable link comprising two flat-members superposed one upon the other with their flatfaces in contact, so as to -form a two-part composite-link, each part having at one end a closedbrilice or slot, and at the other a like orifice or slot open at the outer end; a central securing-lug at the inner end of each open-slot extending into the closed-slot of the adjacent member; and bodies of fusible-solder securing each of the central securing-lugs to the central end-wall of the closed slot of its sister' link-members.

3. An automatically thermally releasable link comprising two flat-members superposed one upon the other with their flat-faces in contact, so as to form a two-part compositelink7 each part having at one end a closedorifice or slot, and at the other a like orilice slot open at the outer end; a central securing-lug at the inner end of cach open slot extending into the closed-slot of the adjacent member; and bodies of fusible-solder securing` each of the central securing-lugs to the central end-wall of the closed slot of its sister link-members; such end-walls of the slots flaring outwardly in the direction of the outer ends of the coacting securing flanges, so as to leave an enlarged chamber between them for holding the body of securin fusible-solder.

n automatically thermally releasable link comprising two flat-members superposed one upon the other with their flat-faces in contact, so as to form a two-part composite link, each part having at one end a closedorifce or slot, and at the other a like orifice or slot open at the outer end; a central securing-lug at the inner end of each openslot extending into the closed-slot of the adjacent member; and bodies of fusiblesolder securing each of the central securing lugs to the central end-wall of the closed slot of its sister link-members; such end-walls of the slots flaring outwardly in the direction of the outer` ends of the coacting securing flanges, so as to leave an enlarged chamber' between them for holding the body of securing fusible-solder; the further solder body having the form of a cross located at substantially the centers of the two linkmembers.

5. An automatically thermally releasable link comprising two flat-members superposed one upon the other with their flat-faces in contact, so as to form a two-part compositelink, each part having at one end a closedorice or slot, and at the other a like orifice slot open at the outer end; a central securing-lug at the inner end of each open-slot extending into the closed-slot of the adjacent member; and bodies of fusible-solder securing each of the central securing-lugs to the central end-wall of the closed slot of its sister link-members; such end-Walls of the slots flaring outwardly in the direction of the outer ends of the coacting securing flanges, so as to leave an enlarged chamber between them for holding the body of securing fusible-solder; the further solder body having the form of a cross located at substantially the centers of the two link-members and a side-lug on one side of each linkmember extending at substantially a rightangle to the plane thereof for holding the two members in line against side displacement.

6. automatically thermally releasable link comprising two fiat-members superposed one upon the other with their flat-faces in contact, so as to form a two-part compositelink, each art having at one end a closedorilice or s ot, and at the other a like orifice or slot open at the outer end; a central securing-lug at the inner end of each open-slot extending into the closed-slot of the adjacent member; and bodies of fusible-solder securing each of the central securing-lugs to the centralend-Wall of the closed slot of its sister link-members; such end-walls of the slots Haring outwardly in the direction of the outer ends of the coacting securing Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the flanges, so as to leave an enlarged chamber between them for holding the body of Securing fusible-solder; the further solder body having the form of a cross located at substantially the centers of the two linkmembers; and a side-lug on one side of each link-member extending at substantially a right-angle to the plane thereof for holding the two members in line against side displacement; the central-securing-lugs being of less width than either of the slots and out of contact with the side-walls thereof.

7 An automatically thermally releasable link comprising two flat-members superposed one upon the other with their flat-faces in Contact, so as to form a two-part compositelink, each part having at one end a closedoriice or slot, and `at the other a like orice or slot open at the outer end; a central securing-lug at the inner end of each openslot extending into the closed-slot of the adjacent member of less width than either of such slots; and a body of fusible-solder securing the link-members together.

8. An automatically thermally releasable link comprising two flat-members superposed one upon the other, supported slightly apart by suitable bosses upon the adjacent faces, the two together forming a two part composite link, each part having at one end a closed slot, and at the other a slot open at the end, the separating bosses of each of the links being two for each link part and l0- cated at the open end thereof, a central se- Curing lug at the inner end of each open slot, extending into the closed slot of the adjacent member; and a fusible solder filling the space between the two parts of the 'link and securing the same rmly together.

CHARLES ADAMS..

Witnesses:

W. S. MODARELLI, MAURICE FERRARESY.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

